Printing apparatus



W. B. PAYN E PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 25, 1934 rm ii R! g 1169 R g 11/ I i 115 11a 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR VM4LTE7? ii f34Y7VE ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1940.- w. B. PAYNE PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 25, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALTER B. PAYNE Q BY F. 9;

ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1940. PAYNE 2,186,144

- w PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I NVENTOR "741754? B. PAY/V5 ATTORN EY Patented Jan- 1940 p I omreo. sures p i rs: wer

2,186,144.." PRINTING APPARATUS Walter B; Payne, Rochester, N. Yd, assignor toi he Todd Company, Inc, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original applicaticndlanuary 25, 1934, Serial No. 708,279. Divided and thisapplication January 15, 1937, Serial No. 120,723"

8 Claims.

"A further object of the inventionis to provide f an improved rotary printing unit including der tachable printing forms or sections, and inking ribbon means for the type or printing characters of the sections, .the unit being particularly adapted for signing checks, drafts, certificates; "andother value representing instrumentsin one or "more colors as may be desired.

'A further object of the invention is to provide an improved'printing cylinder for successively applying different characters or symbols upon substantially the same portion of a sheet or in superimposed relation thereon.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary printing unit with one or more detachable printing plates in combination with'a multicolored ribbon or ribbons for cooperation with platen means whereby to reproduce the type or various characters on the plates in one or more colors on the'sheets tobe printed. p

A further object of'the invention'is to provide two or 'more printing plates having thereon different parts of selected characters or designs aifording a complete signature for application to a check or other negotiable instrument, together with means for operating the plates to successively apply the different parts of the signature to the check. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form or holder for printing characters, designs, symbols, and the like constructed for ready and convenient application to and removal from a rotary supporting unit.

A further object? of the invention is to provide in a printing form or holder ofthe class described, improved means for guiding an inking ribbon over the printing portion of the holder.

A further object of the inventionis to'provide an improved printing plate forapp lying various characters to sheets, with means for engaging and assisting in advancing and guiding the sheet v provide an 'ture app-lied to the' check,

are carried by suitable forms or holders detacheach revolution of the unit. The character holding elements may or'may not be made to operate In the operations of superimposing one set of In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section illustrating one embodiment of the invention; I

Fig; 2 is a transverse sectional elevation substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figf 31s a plan-view partly in section of one of the printing plates and the holder therefor;

Fig.4 is alongitudinal section on line 44 of Fig. 3; I t

- Fig. 5 is a transversesection on line 5-5 of I Fig. 6 is-aplan view of a printing plate and holder similar to that shown in Fig.3 in which the plate is provided with different printing char- 15 act'ers or markings; I

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a portion of a check to which is shown applied the Written portion of the makers signature, in conjunction" with an identifying sign or symbol;

Fig.8 is a'view showing another portion of the maker's signature applied to the check, and p Fig. 9 is aview showing the complete signa- The same reference numerals" throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

' The present invention embodies generally apparatus for applying various characters to sheets such, for example, as checksand other negotiable paper, this application being. a division of my copending application for Printing apparatus, filed January 25, 1934, Serial No. 708,279.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the characters, marking, or designs to be printed 86 ably connected with a rotary printing cylinder or unit beneath which the checks or sheets are advanced by suitable feeding means suclnfor example, as a continuous belt.

The printing cylinder or unit is rotated in a 'dire'ction'opposite to that in which the sheet is advanced'b-y the feeding means and carries a plurality of printing or character holdingelements which engage and operate upon the sheet during upon the same portion of the sheet, but where it is desired to superimpose one design or set of characters upon another, this can be readily done with the present device. 50

characters or one design upon another, the printingor rotating character-holding elements will successively engage substantially the, same portion of the sheet, preferably during each revolution of the unit. In such an operation, the feed belt will move the sheet in one direction, between the platen and the unit and into engagement with suitable stopmeans. One of the printing elements will then reverse the movement of the sheet and at the same time print thereon. This element will then release the sheet for return to the stop means by the feed belt, after which the next succeeding printing element will engage and reverse the movement of the sheet during which time it will print substantially on that portion thereof upon which the characters were applied by the first mentioned printing element, following which the sheet will again be released and continued through the machine by the feed belt, the stop means by this time having been returned to normal-non-ob-' structing position by means provided for actuat ing the same, not shown.

In the present construction the rotary unit is provided with separate detachable printing plates for printing upon a check or other negotiable paper, one of the plates being designed. to print a duplex form of validating signature by printing on the check a facsimile of the name signature of the maker and printing in association with said name signature apredetermined symbolic signature, formed by a representation or design. of an intricate character difficult to re-; produce or forge, whereby to safeguard the name signature. The other plate is'designed toprint a protective ground portion for said duplex signature, constituting in effect a background for the signature.

The present construction comprises a base If] having a casing II thereon provided with a hinged cover I2 for enclosing the printing cylinder I3 and the operating parts associated therewith, the cylinder being supported for rotation by a shaft I8 adapted to be driven by any suitable means, such, for example, as that disclosed in my copending application referred to above.

Disposed beneath the casing is a continuous belt 25 for feeding the sheets into engagement with a stop 260. which serves to position the sheets for engagement by the printing plates on the cylinder.

A shelf 21 is carried bythe base I0 beneath the casing I i for supporting the pulleys on which the belt is mounted and other parts, not shown.

The platen roller 29 which may be formed of any suitable material is carried by a stud 30 on a supporting member 3| secured to the base ID by means of a screw 32 and an adjustable stud .33, Fig. 2. The platen supporting member 3i includes oppositely disposed side portions 34 having slots 35 therein in which are disposed the flattened ends of the stud 30 whereby the latter is prevented from rotating. 7

The sheet or check to be operated upon by the printing cylinder is shown at 36 and has applied thereto the protective ground 31, the validating design or symbol 38, and the facsimile of the makers signature 39, as shown in Fig. 9.

Suitable means, not shown, is provided for guiding the sheets through the machine such, for example, as that shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 708,279.

The casing II is provided with a bottom wall 48 having an opening 49 therein within which the printing cylinder extends, the side walls of the casing being connected by the transversesupporting members 50 and 5|, said members having suitable bearings in which the shaft I8 is mounted for rotation. The ends of the'members shown in Fig. 2. The arm is provided intermediate its ends with a roller 58. When the check or sheet to be printed is being advanced through the machine by the continuous belt 26 it will pass under the roller, at which time it will lift the arm 56 to rock the shaft on which is fixed means, not shown, for releasing a clutch mechanism for controlling the operation of the printing cylinder, such as'that shown and described in my copending application above identified.

The printing cylinder unit I3 carried by the shaft I8 is mounted between the supporting members 5i and 5I and comprises a pair of circular plates I85 and IE6, Figs. 1 and 2, the plates being connected by two sets of cross rods I01. The plate I05 carries the ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism proper, only a portion of which is shown, while plate I05 carries the cylinder stop dog NH and associated parts and other mechanism relating to the ribbon spool holding means.

-The printing cylinder, including the plates I05 and N16, is secured upon and rotated by the main shaft through the member IIO fixed to the shaft. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the member III) has an extended recessed portion IIIla which issecurely fastened to the plate I05 by means of a stud I09. I

The cross rods Ill'I carry the plate holder II! to which the signature plate I II a is suitably attached and the opposite cross rods It? carry the plate holder II2 upon which the background plate IIZa is mounted. The plate holders III and II2 are substantially the same in construction although suitable means, may if desired, be provided so that the plate holders can not be interchangeably disposed on the printing cy1in der. Inasmuch as the plate holders III and H2 and associated locking means therefor are substantially identical, the same reference characters will suflice for'both.

the signature by obtaining a photographic copy of the same is made extremely difficult or practically impossible of accomplishment.

The plate holders III and H2 are each provided with an arcuate portion H3 substantially concentric with the peripheral portions of the plates I05 and I06, to which the printing plates Illa and HM are attached. The side portions H4 and II 5 of the plate holders are extended inwardly from the arcuate portion H3 and are provided with slots H6 at one end each for the reception of one of the cross rods IN. The side portions of the holders are cut away at their opposite ends at II! to engage the other cross rods I01, the side portions being connected by a rod II 8 which is adapted to be engaged by a latch dog H9, pivoted at I20 to a yoke member IZI, carried on a cross rod I22, the ends of which are supported by the circular plates I05 and 506. The latch dog H9 is constantly under the tension of a spring I23 connected therewith and.

the rod I22. Secured to the yoke member I2I is a pin I24 which projects through an elongated opening I in the plate I05, as best shown in Fig. 1. The pins I24 extend outside of the circular plate I05 and are accessible for manual operation as a-means'ior releasing the plate holders. In releasing the holders III and H2 the yoke members I2I arerocked upon their respective pivot rods I22 by means of the pins'I24 in order to withdraw the yielding latch dog I I9 from the "red '8. When the yoke member I2I is rocked, the dog- H9 yields against the tension of the spring I23 and passes over the rod H8,-

the'r'eby' releasing the plate holder and allowing it to be readily removed from the supporting cross rods I03. When the dog Il9is withdrawn from engagement'with the rod I'I8, theportion "I26 thereof engages the portionl'ZI of the :yoke member I2I, thereby limiting the inward movement of the dog I'I9-by the t/e'nsion of the spring I23. p

The inking ribbons I28 and I29 are guided by the holding members I30 for the printing plates in order to assure the proper position of the ribbons with'respect to the plates. Referring to figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, the ribbon guide members I30 are disposed beneath the plate holders III and 'I' I2 and are-held in position by the lugs I3I and -rod H8 extending through the lugs. The plates I30 are provided with openings I32 in'the center thereof to allow for free operation of the latchdog II 9;- At the ends of the ribbon guide bon. The feeding and reversing mechanisms forthe spools may be of any suitable design, such, for example, as that shown and described in my 'copending application, Serial No. 708,279. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the spools for advancing the ribbons are shown at I35 and I35. Secured to the cylinder plate H35 is a U shaped bracket member I31, one for each ribbon spool. A spring plunger I39 isguidedin the member I31 and extends through the plate I05 and the sliding bushing I38 which is rigidly secured to the plunger. The bushing I38 is provided with a collar I48 which'limits the movement of the plunger under the pressure of the spring I39a. The plunger I39'is provided with a reduced end I4I inserted within a central opening in the spool. The bushing I38 has secured thereto a disk I42 which is provided'with a notch I43. flanges of the ribbon spools I35 and I36 are provided with lugs I44 normally disposed within the notches I43 of the disks I42. The plunger I39 extends beyond the extremity of the U shaped member I31 and attached thereto is a knurled operating member I for rotating the-spool.

When it is desired to remove the ribbon spools the plungers I39 are. withdrawn against the tension of the springs E3911 and at thesame time the disks I42 are'moved outwardly from engagement with the lugs I44 on the spools.

The printing cylinder plate I00 has secured thereto a bushing'l46 corresponding to each spool the plates.

The end I the central opening of the ribbon spool to form a support for the spool. The stud I41 is provided with a toothed wheel I5I adjacent the bushing I46, Fig. 1, the spools being operated by the toothed wheels corresponding thereto and the wheels being driven by any suitable means such, for example, as the automatic spool reversing and driving means embodied in my copending application referred to above.

The printing plate holders III and H2 are each provided at one side thereof with a series of parallel grooves and intervening ridges adjacent the printing plates as indicated at 295- .in Figs. land 3.

These roughened portions 295 serve primarily for assisting in the accurate advancement and feed of the sheets. When more than one printing plate is used as in the case of providing superimposed impressions, the roughened portions 295 of the plates extend the same longitudinal distance on the plates regardless of i the length of the subject matter on either of provided on the plate I I la may not in some cases require the entire surface of the plate. Furthen. more, there are, under normal circumstances, spaces provided between the parts of a name; such as, between the surname and middle initial,

between the initial and given name, and also between the given name and the symbol in the event it is used. Therefore, the portions 295 serve to feed the sheet in an un-interrupted path between the spaced parts of the name and when no printing surfaceof the plate is in cooperative engagement with the platen.

' The printing plates I I Ia and I l2a are provided slightly shorter than the roughened portions 295 'of the plate holders I I3. This arrangement provides for the portions: 295 coming into co'opcrative engagement with the sheet and platen roller 29 in'advance of the printing plates and leaving same slightly after the plates. The portion engaging the 'sheet slightly ahead of the printing plate causes an initial movement of the platen roller and the sheet so that the sheet is moving when the edge of the printing plate comes in contact therewith. This. arrangement eliminates the necessity of the plate starting the movement of the sheet which may cause a smudge or result in an uneven impression. The portions 295 continue to feed the sheet after the ends of the printing plates leave the sheet so as to also eliminate. the possibility of a smudge or uneven impression.

With the present method of handling checks the usual data, including the printing of the characters constituting the amount is applied to the check prior to the step of afiixing the makers signature. Inasmuch as checks are generally run through a machine to have the arnount and other data applied thereto justprinting plate holders the grooves and ridges are provided in the latter to substantially reduce the area of that portion of the holders permitted to engage the check. The ridges of the printing plate holders of the present machine are in a position tocontact with the printed arnounts of .the checks at the points at which they are generally applied to the checks.

It has been found that by providing a series of ridges'or other relatively fine projections on The facsimile signature or symbol the portions 295 of the printing plates or the holders therefor that no objectionable amount of ink is picked up from the previously printed amounts by the ridges or projections during the check signing operations. The ridges or pointed projections may be formed in any desired manner, and also function as a means for advancing or assisting in the advancement of the checks or other sheets and furthermore serve as a means for guiding and maintaining the check in the desired path of movement during the printing operations.

In the operation of the machine it will be understood that the sheet will be advanced between the platen and the printing device by the belt before the first printing plate had time to contact with the sheet, this being done sub-- stantially at or slightly after the time at which the sheet is arrested by the stop means. Eda. As soon as the inking ribbonand the roughened portion 295 of the first printing plate contacts the sheet, the direction of movement of the latter will be reversed by the same, by reason of the fact that the printing device is rotated in a direction opposite to that in which the sheet is moved by the feeding belt. Upon completion of the movement of the sheet by the first printing plate and the resulting printing operation, the feed belt will again advance the sheet into engagement with the stop means which is done before the second printing plate has had time to engage the sheet and reverse its movement.

At this point it may be stated that with the present printing device the second printing plate is so positioned relative to the first and thespeed of the operating partsso timed that the second plate will engage: and operate upon substantially the same portion of the sheet which was previously operated upon by the first printing plate, thereby superimposing the printed characters of the second plate upon those printed by the first plate as, for example, superimposing the parts 38 and 39 of the makers signature shown in Fig. '7 on the protective ground portion 31 shown in Fig. 8, the result being the application of the complete signature to the check as shown in Fig. 9.

However, if desired the two printing plates or the characters thereon can be sopcsitioned upon the rotary printing unit and the speed of the parts so regulated as to cause the characters to be applied to different portions of the sheet as, for example, one in advance of another.

It will be understood that as soon as the second printing plate of the present design has completed its printing operation. it will release the sheet which will then be picked up by the. continuously rotating belt and carried to its destination, the stop means having in the meantime been moved out of the path of the sheet by suitable automatic operating means thereforysuch for example as that shown and described in my copending application referred to above. I

It will be further understood that in signing the check by applying the complete signature thereto, as shown in 9. that the ground portion 31 and the symbolical signature portion 38 may be applied at one operation and the name signature 39 at another operation if desired, and that the colors of said portions may be varied to provide for any preferred color combination, as for exampleby the use of inln'ng ribbons of different colors, or of multi-colored ribbons, as previously stated.

It will be also understood that either of the signatureportionsil or 38 may 'ibe omitted if it is preferred to-have only onerelatively complicated design or symbolassociated with the name signature to form the complete signature of the maker of the check. Furthermore, if desired, one or more printing plates may be used in the present machine to apply any desireddata to a sheet, without effecting any change in the design of the machine or in its method of operation.

.I claim: H

1. A printing device for use. on a rotary operating element to advance and print on a sheet, comprising an arcuate holder having characters thereon adapted for cooperation with an inking ribbon to print data upon the sheet during operation of said'element, and a plurality of spaced parts on the holder at each side thereof and each extending in the direction of the opposite side of the holder and terminating short thereof and beneath which the ribbon is adapted to operate and by which parts it is held in proper relation with respect to the characters during rotation of said element. 2. A printing device for use one rotary operating element to print on a sheet,; comprising an arcuate printing .plate having; characters thereon adapted for cooperation with aninking ribbon to print data upon the sheet, said platehaving one or more angularly disposed portions formed to receive supporting means for the plate on said element, a part connected with the plate for receivingv a securingmember carried by the rotary element, and a member on the plate at each side edge thereof and extending inwardly of said edge and terminating short of the opposite side edge of the plate, each of said members being adapted to overlie a portion of one'face of the inking ribbon and to form guide means for the latter.

3. As an article of manufacture, an arcuate printingv section for connection with and opera tion by a rotary support and for cooperation with a platenand an inking ribbon, said arcuate section having a retaining part for the reception of means on the support for securing the section thereon, and a pair of guides at cachend of the section for guiding the inking ribbon overthe printing portion of the section, the guides of each pair, extending in opposite directions and being spaced one from another and adapted to overlie a portion of the outer face of the ribbon.

4. As an article of manufacture, an arcuate printing section for connection with and operationby a rotary support and for cooperation with a platen and an inking ribbon, said arcuate section having a retaining part for the reception of means on the support for securing the section thereon, and a, member disposed on the inner face of the arcuate section and having spaced guides at each of its ends for overlying the outer face of the ribbon and for guiding the ribbon during advancement thereof over the printing portion of the section and permitting the ribbon to be withdrawn from the section by moving it laterally thereof. I

5. As an article of manufacture, an arcuate printing section for connection with and operation by a rotary support and for. cooperation with a platen and an inking ribbon, said arcuate section having a retaining part for the reception of means on the support for securing it thereon, a plate-disposed on the inner face of the arcuate section and having a pair of spaced guides at each of its ends for overlying and guiding the ribbon during advancement thereof over the printingportion of thearcuatevsection and means on said plate engaging the retaining part of .the section by which the plate is secured upon the section. v I 6. As an article of manufacture, a unitary printing section for use on a rotary support, comprising an arcuate printing plate having printing characters thereon and having inwardly extending flange-like portions adjacent its sides formed,

for the reception of portions of the rotary support, and a part on the printing section for the reception of retaining means on the support, said part extending transversely of the section and having its ends connected with said flange-like portions. g

7. In printing apparatus, a rotary support, and

a printing device on thesupport comprising an arcuate holder provided with printing characters, said holder having means for guiding an inking device for-printing on a sheet mounted on androt'atable with the support and comprising an arouate holder provided with printing characters,

said holderhaving means for. guiding an inking ribbon 'over said printing characters including parts spaced one from another and adapted to overlie the side edges of the ribbon during the printing operations, said holder also vhaving a part for engaging the sheet during the printing operations to assist in guiding and advancing the sheet, and means for securing the arcuate holder on the rotary support.

WALTER B. PAYNE. 

